Libraries and Student Success

Libraries and Student Success
By Jennifer Miranda

Libraries play a crucial role in assisting students in being successful at school.  There are many techniques that librarians use to teach literacy.  One librarian that works in a rural school district in Kansas states how important it is to build a rapport with the students.  By having this relationship, you can interact with the student about what they are reading.  When they return a book, you can ask the student if they enjoyed the book and whether they would like to read a similar type of book (Brownlee 18). This form of interaction stimulates personal interest in a student so that they know you are there to support their academic needs. The librarian also applied for grant funding that would give her the opportunity to update part of the collection that the school district could not afford to replace (Brownlee 19).  She also has students that work in the library to teach librarianship and responsibility.  Students are also given the opportunity to provide input on what books they think should be incorporated into the library collection (Brownlee 21).

In a study conducted by Missouri public schools they completed an analysis on whether standardized testing scores were higher in schools that had certified librarians.  The results showed that there were significantly higher scores in the schools that had a full-time librarian verse the schools that had no librarian or a part time librarian (Buress et al. 1).  The researchers also looked at data from other states that showed a full-time librarian translated to higher student test scores.  These librarians are successful in teaching literacy and collaborating with teachers to assist with resources needed to build a stronger curriculum.  Full-time librarians also supported teachers in incorporating technology into their lesson to enhance depth to the curriculum being taught (Buress et al. 3).  The reasoning behind the success is not only that the librarian is full-time but has also taken course work and professional classes to support students in their academic endeavors (Buress et al. 16). 

A librarian can assist a student in their academic success by teaching literacy, technology and how to find resources.  For younger children a book read aloud is an excellent tool for teaching vocabulary and comprehension of the story (Betts 21) While reading the book aloud it provides you the opportunity to ask the students questions to keep them stimulated and engaged in the story by interacting with the students when reading the book.  It is also a great method to reinforce a subject matter that they are learning about in their class (Betts 22).  Collaboration with teachers can add more strength to a lesson.  A librarian can assist a teacher with integrating innovative technology when teaching a subject matter.  In addition, if the class has a specific topic that they are researching the librarian can teach a lesson regarding finding material on the subject matter in hard copy or by using the internet.  By collaborating with a team, you can ensure that the curriculum needs are being met.  Also, the use of technology can elevate the standards of the information being taught (Betts 24).

Librarians relied upon technology to support students during the pandemic by utilizing online platforms to communicate with students.  Librarians also assisted teachers with Google Classroom by providing Zoom in-service meetings and video tutorials (Ellis and Jacobs 24).  One librarian still holds a Zoom book read aloud for parents and students once a month.  By holding it online she has three times more families participating than she would if she held it in person.  The librarian is also building a rapport with parents and students by holding this event (Ellis and Jacob 23).  The main goal of a school librarian is supporting the curriculum as well as providing tools to assist the individual student to excel academically.  Studies have shown that when a school has a librarian that collaborates with the teachers together, they can build a stronger curriculum.  With a successful curriculum students have the potential to have high scores on state standardized tests.  This shows that collaboration with teachers and a librarian can be successful in students attaining their academic goals.

                Watch the Video Below on the Positive Impact of School Libraries

 

Work Cited

Betts, Carrie A. “Library Activities, Curricular Connection, and Collaborative Environments Lead to Success for Students.” Knowledge Quest, vol. 52, no. 1, Sept. 2023, pp. 20–26. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=174171830&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Brownlee, Amy. “Building Bonds with Young Readers the Power of Relationships.” Knowledge Quest, vol. 52, no. 4, Mar. 2024, pp. 16–23. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=176979539&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Burress, Rene, et al. “The Power of Full-Time Certified School Librarians in Missouri: Boosting Student Achievement Across Disciplines.” School Libraries Worldwide, vol. 28, no. 2, Aug. 2023, pp. 1–18. EBSCOhost, https://doiorg.ezproxy.palomar.edu/10.29173/slw8695.

Ellis, Leanne, and Melissa Jacobs. “Transforming Practice: School Library Success Stories in Challenging Times.” Knowledge Quest, vol. 49, no. 5, May 2021, pp. 16–25. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=149932916&site=ehost-live&scope=site.